Device for emptying milk bottles and the like by the case



L. UH RICH Feb. 19, 1957 DEVICE FOR EMPTYING MILK BOTTLES AND THE LIKE BY THE CASE Filed Aug. 5, 1954 DEVICE FOR EMPTYING MILK BOTTLES AND v THE LIKE BY THE CASE Leander Uhrich, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Application August 5, 1954, Serial No. 448,040

3 Claims. (Cl. 214-314) My invention relates to newv and useful improvements in means for emptying milk bottles in bulk, the principal object and essence of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewi-thin described where milk bottles may be emptied by the case into a common cont-aineri Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is adapted to receive cases designed for milk bottles and packages.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described wherein the case is adapted to be clamped into a rack whereupon the rack and the case may be turned over to register with a container, thereby permitting all of the bottles in said cas ing to be emptied simultaneously.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it i designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device with the rack in the down position, but shown in the emptying position in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of my device with the rack and case in the emptying position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rack per se.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

*In the dairy industry particularly, bottles of fluid milk which remain unsold have to be emptied so that the milk can be processed for other purposes, and it will be appreciated that individual emptying of bottles is extremely arduous and time-consuming.

The device hereinafter to be described overcomes these disadvantages by permitting the case of bottles to be emptied simultaneously into a common container.

Proceeding now to describe my invention in detail, it will be seen upon reference to the accompanying drawings that I have provided a supporting framework collectively designated 1 consisting of legs 2 and cross-members 3, the upper side 4 of the supporting framework being substantially rectangular when viewed in plan. Contained and supported by the upper side of the framework 1 is a fluid container or tank 5, the dimensions of the open upper side of which are similar to the dimensions of a conventional milk bottle case 6. Furthermore, a spigot 7 is provided within the tank for draining purposes. 1

A pair of upward extensions 8 are secured by the lower ends thereof to cross-members 3 and extend upwardly to I adjacent the upper side edge 9 of the tankysaid extenstone being spanned by a pivot rod 10. A pair of vertical straps 11, apertured as at 12, are suspended from the pivot rod 10 by means of these apertures adjacent the ends of the rod 10, said straps including a plurality of pivot pins 13 extending outwardly from the side faces 14 thereof. 7 1 r A rack collectively designated 15 for carrying the aforementioned case 6 is adapted to be detachably secured to these straps 11, said rack consisting of a pair of vertical members 16 and a base 17 extending at right angles therefrom, diagonal braces 17' extending from adjacent the upper ends 18 of the vertical'members 16 and the base 17, as clearly shown in Figure 5. The lower ends- 19 of the vertical members extend downwardly to formthe straps 11, which in turn are pivotally supported by the pivot rods 10.

A perforate cover panel collectively designated 21 consists of a rectangular frame 22 covered by a wire mesh or screen 23 and it will be seen that this cover panel is also pivotally secured to the rod 10 by mean of lugs 24. This cover panel is adapted to engage the upper side of the associated case 6 and clamp means collectively designated 25 are provided cooperating between the cover panel and the rack to hold the case firmly in position thereon so that the screen 23 also retains the bottles in the case when same i tipped over, as will hereinafter be described.

This clamp means for holding the cover panel in position consists of a strap 26 extending downwardly from the front edge 27 of the cover panel, said strap containing a plurality of hooks 28. A latch lever 29 is provided with a hooked upper end 30 adapted to engage one of the hooks 28, the lower end 31 of the lever being secured to one arm 32 of a bell crank 33, which is supported upon a bar 34 on the base of the rack, the other arm 35 of the bell crank carries a tension spring 36, which extends rearwardly to be secured to the rack so that the latch lever 29 is under tension and will thus clamp the cover panel base .17 of the rack, with the tops removed from the bottles within the case. Thecover panel is then swung down upon the upper surface of the case and the latch lever 29 engaged with the relevant hook 28 to clamp the case firmly in position on the rack and it will be appreciated that the screen 23 will prevent the bottles from tipping from the case during the next operation.

The handles 19 are then grasped and the rack, case and cover panel are rotated through degrees around the pivot rod 10 so that it takes up the position shown in dotted line in Figure 1. In other words, the upper side of .the case is now registering with the upper side'of tank 5. This empties the entire case at one time, the milk or fluid passing through the screen 23 into the tank where upon the rack and case may be swung downwardly into theoriginal position shown in Figure 1 and the case removed ready for a further case to be placed in the rack.

Since various modifications can bemade in my inven: tion as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained Patented Feb. 19, 1957 work, afiuid containing tank supported'above'said frame-V work,- a rack for supporting the associated case at one-side of said tank pivotally supported by upward extensions of said framework, a perforate cover panel also hingedly secured on the same axis as said rackto "saidextensions,

and mean adapted to clamp said cover panel over-said case and to said rack, thereby holding said case and said bottles in said case, in said rack; said rack, said case and said cover panel adapted to swing through app'roxi mately 180 degrees so that the upper side of said case registers with the upper side of said tank whereby the contents of said bottles are deposited in said tank,-said rack comprising a pair of rear vertical members,- the upper ends of 'said members being hooked, the lower ends of said members extendingtto form operating-handles, a base extending at right angles from said vertical members; and diagonal braces extending between the upper ends of said vertical members and said base.

2. The device according to claim l which includes a pivot rod spanning the upper ends of said framework extension, a pair of straps pivotally secured by the upper ends thereof to said rods, a plurality of pins extending outwardly from said straps, said hooked ends being adapted to engage selectively pairs of said pins.

3. The device according'to claim 2 in which said means adapted to clamp said cover panel over said case and to said am includes a strap dpeirdiri'g downwardly froln the forward edge ofs'aid cover panel, a plurality of books on said strap; a latch lever pivotally seciired to the base of said rack, said latch lever being adapted to engage selectively one of said' l'r'ooks, said latch Ievrbeing spring loaded with relation to said rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

